Roll Out the Red Carpet, the Pirate Porn Stars Are Here

LOS ANGELES — To witness the hordes of sharply dressed people gathered below the grand marquee of downtown L.A.'s Orpheum Theater Saturday night, as giant spotlights danced through the black sky above and an army of photogs and reporters scurried this way and that, one most likely would not have guessed that what all those people were there to do was collectively watch hardcore porn on the huge movie screen inside. (photo gallery)

That is, unless one was familiar with the names "Digital Playground," "Joone" and/or "Pirates" splashed across the aforementioned marquee.

As unforgettable a premiere as Digital Playground threw three years ago for the first Pirates at the landmark Egyptian theater in Hollywood, this debut affair for its sequel set the bar higher yet. There was no denying the sense, just in observing the incredible procession of adult industry figures both powerful and seldom publicly seen streaming into the theater, that this was a night for the history books.

AVN Hall of Famer Stephanie Swift, who's certainly seen her fair share of big porn events, said of the proceedings, "We've come a long way, baby!"

Tommy Gunn, who braved the entire evening wearing the contact lens for the dead right eye of his character, Victor Stagnetti, commented, "I'm so moved that everybody feels so strongly about the movie and wants to come out and show their curiosity. It's a wonderful time ... it's history."

And as the lobby lights dimmed to warn that the show was about to begin, and the masses filed into the spectacular auditorium to take their seats, there was a buzz in the air that seemed to suggest perhaps porn was experiencing a resurgence right before everyone's eyes.